A GROUP of budding young entrepreneurs have been given an insight into the business world as part of a school enterprise initiative.

Reid Street Primary School was one of 38 schools to take part in a challenge giving each institution £100 to create, design and develop a business model that included community support.

Their ideas were pitched to town centre businesses and the school has now been shortlisted among the final ten schools to compete in the scheme.

Staff at Bannatyne’s head office in Darlington met with seven children from the school, two teachers and their business mentor, Sergeant Major Mark Hill MBE, to give them an opportunity to sell their products.

The Bannatyne team deliberated and decided to buy three adverts: one for the health club, the spa and the hotel. The school that secures the most profit will win the school challenge and receive £5,000 prize money.

If Reid Street Primary is successful, the school will donate £1,000 to St Teresa's Hospice.

The school will also support Darlington's Steve Graham, who has conquered Mount Everest and already raised more than £2,500 for St Teresa’s and Prostate Cancer UK.

Joanne Davison, vice principal at the school, added: “The initiative has allowed our children to fully demonstrate their inner-entrepreneur.

"The project has encouraged team building, creative thinking and business skills, in addition to having the pleasure of working with a mentor like Mark, who has shared his wealth of experience with the pupils."